Area Control

Players compete to dominate and control more areas or territories on the game board. It often involves conflict, strategy, and negotiation. Examples include “Risk” and “Smallworld”.

Buccaneer: Box Cover Front
Rating: 3.8/5

Buccaneer Review

Buccaneer turns treasure hunting into a noisy, cheeky race. Trading feels great, though luck can steal the spotlight. Still, with the right crew, every deal creates a story worth retelling.

Yellowstone: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4.3/5

Yellowstone Review

Yellowstone is like a camping trip—fun, strategic, and full of unexpected bear encounters. Bring friends! If you love outsmarting opponents more than rolling dice, you’ll have a blast here.

Times: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4.5/5

Times Review

Times had us shouting answers and laughing nonstop. The rules are simple, but the competition gets fierce fast. If you want a quick, clever party game, this one's a winner—unless your friends can't handle losing gracefully.

Politico: Box Cover Front
Rating: 3.5/5

Politico Review

Politico had us scheming, laughing, and occasionally yelling at dice. It's a wild mix of strategy and luck—great for groups, but if you hate chaos, beware. The art’s good, the rules are simple, and political drama is guaranteed.

Brew: Box Cover Front
Rating: 3.8/5

Brew Review

Brew bursts onto the table with wild art, zany potions, and more dice than a casino. It’s quirky and fun, but be warned—luck sometimes crashes the party! Great for wild nights, less so for control freaks.

Skyward: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4/5

Skyward Review

Skyward turns city building into a sharp little puzzle. Every choice matters, luck stays fair, and my friends kept plotting revenge over resource cards. It runs a touch long with four players, but the tension feels great.

Drive: Box Cover Front
Rating: 3.8/5

Drive Review

Drive delivers clever choices, tense table talk, and just enough luck to keep things lively. It has a few rough edges, but my friends and I kept asking for one more race.

Celtic: Box Cover Front
Rating: 3.5/5

Celtic Review

Celtic packs clever movement, blocking, and a dash of luck into a colorful package. Best with three or four players, but watch out for moochers! Not perfect, but it’s stayed on my table more than most.

Amazons: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4.8/5

Amazons Review

Amazons is pure strategy—no dice, no luck, just outsmarting your friends with every move. If you love blocking paths and burning bridges (literally with arrows), this game's for you!

Torres - Torres, HUCH! & friends/IDW Games, 2017 — front cover (image provided by the publisher) - Credit: W Eric Martin
Rating: 4.5/5

Torres Review

In my journey with Torres, I discovered a game where strategic depth meets engaging player interaction. The fair scoring system rewards thoughtful planning, making every game a thrilling yet balanced experience worth diving into repeatedly.